The role of IT in Knowledge Management

1. The role of IT in Knowledge Management Sin Chung Kai Legislative Councillor (IT) 8 July 2005

2. We are in a knowledge-base society! • Most of our work is information based • Organizations compete on the basis of knowledge • Products and services available in the society are increasingly complex • Life-long learning is inevitable needed

3. Why KM in knowledge-base business economy? • Foster innovation • By encouraging the free flow of ideas • Improve customer service • By streamlining response time • Boost revenues • By getting products and services to market faster • Enhance employee retention rates • By recognizing the value of employees’ knowledge and rewarding them for it • Streamline operations and reduce costs • By eliminating redundant or unnecessary processes

4. The role of IT in KM • Information technology, by itself is not KM • However, • KM is often facilitated by IT • IT provides solutions to KM • IT is a tool to increase the “efficiency” and “capability” of KM • facilitates document management, data storage, access of information, the dissemination, exchange and sharing of ideas IT, as a facilitator of KM

5. Knowledge management IT Knowledge Creating more values via IT… Enhancing efficiency! Higher productivity!

6. Upcoming Issues in ICT in next 24 months • New Strategic Framework for Innovation and Technology Development • CEPA3 • VoIP • Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) • Merger of Broadcasting Authority (BA) and Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) • IPv6 • STEPS campaign to fight against spam • Professional development and Qualifications framework

7. The new strategic framework • Focus - to identify key technology focus areas where Hong Kong has competitive advantages • Market relevance - to adopt a demand-led, market-driven approach in driving the innovation and technology programme • Industry participation - to closely involve the industry in defining the key focus areas and other stages of innovation and technology development

8. The new strategic framework • Leverage on the Mainland - to utilize the production base in the Greater PRD as the platform for developing our applied R&D and commercialization of applied R&D deliverables • Better coordination - to strengthen coordination among various technology-related institutions and the industry

9. Two-tier system • Tier one: 5 R&D centers • Information and communications technologies (ICT) • Nanotechnology & advanced materials • Textile & clothing • auto parts & accessory systems • logistics & supply chain management enabling technologies • Tier two: support R&D projects under the focus themes • Digital entertainment • Mechanical watch movements

10. ICT R&D center • Proposed to be run by ASTRI • 4 technology areas: • Communications Technologies • Consumer Electronics • IC design • Opto-electronics • Aim to be the de-facto hub for HK and PRD-based companies to conduct R&D activities • Role of the centre: • Conduct industry-oriented research • Provide a platform for the exchange of IP and technology • Engage in technology development, transfer and knowledge dissemination • IP commercialisation

12. Projects instantiated in 05-06 by ASTRI

13. Projects instantiated in 05-06 by ASTRI

14. Digital entertainment • Set up an Incubation-cum-training Center at Cyberport • Support start-up local digital entertainment companies • Aims to nurture up to 45 local companies • Provide rent free office space, equipment and advanced digital media production facilities at favorable terms • Business development, promotion & marketing, partnership matching, technology & entrepreneurship training also be provided at subsidized rate

15. Next step… • The admin support the proposals submitted by various R&D institutes / universities • ICT R&D Center – at a maximum ITF funding of $1700M for 5 years • Operation cost: $292.9 m • R&D project cost: $1799.3 m • Incubation-cum-training Center at Cyberport – $30.77M for 40 months • Centers can be set up in late 2005 if amount of funding have to be approved by the Finance Committee of Legco

16. CEPA3 • CEPA 1 in Oct 2003: • Liberalized 5 telecom value-added services • CEPA 2 in Jan 2004, HK companies/ residents are allowed to: • Apply computer information system integration (SI) qualification certification • Sit for the qualification examinations for computing technology and software professionals • Set up internet culture business units and internet online service business premises • CEPA 3: • To be concluded by CPG & HKSARG in mid-2005 • IT industry organized a CEPA3 Forum in May 2005 to articulate their wish

17. CEPA3 - Industry’s wish list • Provide national treatment for HK’s IT businesses • Include Hong Kong made software in the scope of “Mainland good & services” under the Government Procurement Law • Accelerate the exchange of knowledge between HK-PRC • To enhance training, education, and networking of IT professionals of both places in a view to help improve competitiveness of IT practitioners in the Mainland • To facilitate the set-up of branches or chapters for international professional associations

18. CEPA3 - Industry’s wish list • Recognize HK as a designated center of IT activities • Promote the collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland on the matter of IPR • Establish PRD Telecom Special Zone • Allow HK digital entertainment companies to obtain majority shareholding in Mainland-HK joint venture and follow the same track of content scrutiny • Incorporate HK into the Mainland’s ICT roadmap • Relax the Value-added tax collection policy

19. VoIP • Industry consultation closed on 4 Dec 04 • Minimum and proportionate level of regulation to be applied to VoIP • Upheld “technology neutrality” principle • The administration propose a two-tier regulatory framework: • To help protect consumer interest • To allow innovative services to develop in response to market demands …at the same time

20. Two-tier regulatory framework • Services that are similar to conventional telephone services: • Be required to have a higher level of consumer protection • Subject to essentially the same regulatory requirements as conventional telephone services, • the need to ensure a high quality level of service, • to allow users to access "999" emergency services, • to provide directory enquiry services, and • to comply with backup power supply requirement for network equipment • Enjoy the same rights and obligations of number portability as provided for conventional telephone services • Other type of IP telephony service • More relaxed • Be required to provide any-to-any connectivity, calling line identification functionality

21. Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) • Industry consultation to be closed on 14 Mar 2005 • 3.4-3.6 GHz band proposed to be allocated • Three 14 MHz x 2 paired blocks and four 20 MHz unpaired blocks are available • Subject to payment of Spectrum Utilization Fee • Assigned by auctioning • Market to decide technical standard to be used • Initially proposed to be for “fixed” services

22. Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) • Problems in the initial proposal • Restricting use of spectrum to “fixed” services • Deviates from “technology neutrality” principle? • Restrict business case for the use of BWA spectrum • Timeframe • BWA is expected to be rolled out by 2007 as Type II interconnection of FTNS will be fully withdrawn by 2008 • The auction of BWA spectrum to be taken place some time late this year or early next year

23. Merger of BA and OFTA • The existing institutional framework • BA and OFTA as two separate entities which operate under different legislative framework and institutional basis in dealing with broadcasting and telecoms industry respectively • The basis of merger • Convergence of communications technologies and markets • Broadcasting/telecoms services • Mobile/broadcasting services • Fixed/mobile service

24. Merger of BA and OFTA • Worldwide examples of merger • In the UK, Office of Communications (Ofcom) is formed by merging the functions of five regulatory bodies: • the Independent Television Commission, the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Office of Telecommunications, the Radio Authority and the Radiocommunications Agency. • In Australia, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) was established on July 1, 2005 by merging the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA).

25. Merger of BA and OFTA • The new institutional framework • A single regulatory body • To formulate quick and coordinated responses to facilitate the provision of the emerging services • To put in place appropriate measures to safeguard public interests • Regulatory philosophies • Adopt competition-based regulation • Reduce its rule-making role • Keep regulation to a minimum • An active tripartite arrangement • As a partner with the stakeholders from the industry and the public

26. IPv6 • The move to IPv6 is gathering momentum in Asian countries • the Mainland • Japan • Korea • Singapore • These countries have worked on the overall requirements for the IPv6 network, neighbor configuration, stateless address collocation and mobile IPv6 applications

27. IPv6 • Factors to be considered for HK migrating to IPv6 • Local demand for Internet services based on IPv6 • Technical maturity of IPv6 • The availability of applications that can make the best use of IPv6 features – waiting for the so-called “killer application” • HK is still “watching” over the IPv6 development

28. IPv6 • Factors to be considered for HK Development in the past • Early 2003 – An Internet2 Project was launched to provide academic and research services, including IPv6 to universities in HK • Mar 2004 – the Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX) started operation of HK IPv6 Exchange (HK6IX)

29. IPv6 • Development in progress • The Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation (HKIRC) to offer IPv6 domain name services in 2006 • The Government set up a liaison group • to ensure timely and smooth communication • to share knowledge and experience among stakeholders of Internet infrastructure • to monitor progress on development and adoption of IPv6 in HK • The Government to include IPv6 as a technical standard in future review of its Interoperability Framework.

30. STEPS Campaign • S – Strengthening existing regulatory measures • T – Technical solutions • E - Education • P - Partnerships • S – Statutory measures

31. The regulation of SPAM • Regulatory measures • Fax – penalize advertisers who continue to spam recipients on the “not-to-call” list by reducing the timeframe required to cut off their access to telecom services • SMS/MMS – extend existing dole of practice for mobile network operators • Technical solutions • Collaborate with the industry to organize seminars, conferences and exhibitions to promote the latest anti-spam technical solutions

32. The regulation of SPAM • Education • Campaign to raise the level of public awareness • Partnerships • Develop a common blacklist to filter spam at local ISP level • Statutory measures • Enact legislation to regulate spamming • Full draft legislation to be introduced to LegCo next year

33. IT Professionalization • Yes, because • our society has become highly dependent upon the use of IT; • IT professionals are required to have practical experience; • IT professionals have to undergo formal education & training for performing IT-related jobs. Profession…. “… the practice of it directly influences human well-being and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills which are acquired through formal education and practical experience.” The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science

34. IT professionalization - PRC Computing technology and software qualification examination 中國計算機技術與軟件專業技術資格（水平）考試 • One of the popular IT exams in the Mainland, more than 1 million candidates joined this exam (as at the end of 2003) • 5 examination areas with 3 levels • software, network, application technology, information system, information services • National recognized, monitored by MII • A Test Center was set up in Hong Kong in Aug 2004 • Hong Kong citizens could join the exam in Hong Kong • 信息產業部電子教育中心 http://www.ceiaec.org • http://www.ogcio.gov.hk/chi/itind/tc_doc/compqualexam.pdf

35. IT Professionalization – HK Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Information discipline • The only legal recognition for IT professional in HK • Provide a legal path for information engineers to register • Qualified IT professionals may register as professional engineers under Information discipline, HKIE

36. IT Professionalization – HK Apart from the path of HKIE, how can we further promote IT profession? • Actively working on Reciprocal Recognition Agreements with various countries/regions, e.g. Australia, UK, USA, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Ireland • Mutual recognition with British Computer Society (BCS) • Promote IT professionalism by accreditation

37. HKIE (information discipline) HKCS(Full member) IT Professionalization – HK Latest development: Reciprocal Recognition between HKIE and Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) • HKCS full members can apply Registered Professional Engineer (RPE), a recognized statutory registration in Hong Kong Are these paths sufficient to fulfill the needs of IT professionals? Shall we need an entirely new registration system?

38. Industrial consultation Reach consensus Conduct a review IT Professionalization – HK • A consultation paper on Introducing a Registration System for IT Professionals was published in July 2002 • Consensus of the IT-related bodies: • Registration system would benefit the long-term development of IT sector • A working group was formed in 2003 • Members come from 17 IT-related organizations • Served as a focal point for members of the industry to give advice and recommendations on this issue • HKIE is the coordinator of the working group. • The way forward: Accreditation System

39. Proposed Registration Framework for IT Professionals • Academic Formation • A recognized degree in ICT areas or equivalent • Experience Formation • A min. 4 (or 5) year relevant post-graduation experience in ICT related professions • A commonly accepted policy of recognizing / accrediting an academic qualification & relevant experience should have been established at the parent qualifying body

40. Proposed Registration Framework for IT Professionals • Assessment Mechanism • One or more: interview, examinations, essay writing • Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements • For the purpose of attaining registration or maintenance of registration status • Should be considered and developed at a later stage after establishing and implementing the proposed framework • Non-traditional systems • By means of the concept of Total Professional Formation to qualify those different from the above described framework

41. Qualifications Framework (QF) • Covers the mainstream, vocational and continuing education sectors • Comprises seven levels, each is characterized by its generic level descriptors which specify the common features of qualifications at the same level

42. The way forward • However, for our IT sector… • Life-cycle of ICT skill is short • Technologies are ever-changing • Many sub-sector under ICT industry • EMB will set up an Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC) for ICT sector shortly • Help to implement QF • Develop an industry training specifications • Formulate a recognition of Prior Learning mechanism • Promote QF QF can be the basis to support and speed up our work on IT professional registration / certification system

43. Thank you http://www.sinchungkai.org.hk